KOTA KINABALU – Former chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal today welcomed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation into Sabah Development Bank’s (SDB) RM300 million loan to AirAsia Group.
Shafie, who is also former state finance minister and Warisan chief, said he has nothing to hide, adding that the loan was not approved overnight and that the state-owned SDB “did their homework before approving it”.
“AirAsia is a firm registered with Bursa Malaysia, therefore any transaction valued at RM300 million would need approval after all lending requirements are met.
“The budget carrier has a plan that would benefit Sabah and targeted to offer 100,000 jobs in the state,” he said in a statement today.
Aside from establishing an e-commerce platform for Sabah farmers, AirAsia is setting aside RM110 million to develop the Kota Kinabalu International Airport as its international hub, Shafie said.
He said the airline’s plan was in line with the Sabah Agriculture Development Action Plan 2021-2030 that was launched by the previous Warisan administration to transform the state’s agriculture industry and enhance national food security.
He added as then chief minister he felt that the state should not rely only on Malaysia Airlines but other carriers should be given a chance to grow. – The Vibes, October 28, 2020
